Thursday, January 17, 2008

NAACP, Deters and Archie Bunker

NAACP President Christopher Smitherman sent out a press release this morning blasting Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters' essay in Cincinnati Gentlemen magazine, the one in which Deters wrote, among other things, that he wouldn't let his teen-age son go to the Main Street entertainment district.

Smitherman wants an apology from Deters. Here's what he wrote this morning:

"Joe Deters, the Hamilton County Prosecutor, made some comments that were in the local newspaper on Monday. He stated that he does not allow his son to hang out in downtown Cincinnati because going there is like going to Jurassic Park. As a parent, Joe Deters can make whatever decisions he chooses regarding his son. President of the Cincinnati NAACP Branch, Christopher Smitherman, questions Deters' reference of what Deters deemed representative of dinosaurs in the downtown area right on the backdrop of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

Smitherman believes the comments to be very inflammatory, reckless, and derogatory.

"I have not commented until now because I was waiting for the white leadership to bring comment on Deter's inappropriate language," he said. Smitherman also stated that the White community often calls out for black leadership to dispute what they deem as "inappropriate statements or behaviors" by other blacks. So, after three days he is now asking, "Where's the white leadership to dispute Deters?" Smitherman asserts that there isn't any difference between the language that Prosecutor Deters used and the language used by the prosecutor in Jena, Louisiana last year.

Cincinnati has two large, national conventions committed to coming downtown this summer: the NAACP Convention and the National Baptist Convention. Each group anticipates about 10,000 largely African-American attendees. Yet, the most prominent County official is not advancing those efforts when he describes where those 20,000 guests will be convening as Jurassic Park. He makes these remarks two weeks prior to a retreat of the NAACP board members to Cincinnati for a major planning session for its National Convention in July.

Joe Deters may be intentional in downgrading a major section of Hamilton County or he may be truly speaking from his heart. Whatever the case may be, Smitherman said do not condemn him when he tells the story of the oppression of Black America in Cincinnati on the national stage come July. Cincinnati's story includes this fact (Deters' Jurassic Park comment) and other facts such as the County Prosecutor's unwillingness to hire African-American lawyers in his office (less than 7 of 111), his over-prosecution of African-American defendants which was validated by a recent report that African-Americans in Hamilton County, Ohio were 10 to 12 times more likely to be prosecuted and convicted compared to White citizens. Smitherman is wondering where is the outrage from the broader White leadership?

Joe Deters is one of the candidates that is running unopposed in November per the deal struck between the Democratic and Republican Parties. He says he's aware that the County Prosecutor is influencing the selection of judges. For example, the affirmative action appointment of Judge Penelope Cunningham (the wife of radio talk show host, Bill Cunningham) over more qualified, even African-American, candidates. Smitherman claims that Joe Deters simultaneously worked to get his own mother-in-law appointed to a judgeship as well. Cincinnati's little town mentality exudes through such decision-making. The same players assign other small town thinkers like themselves, better yet in their families, to authoritative positions. This is not a strategy that will be successful in marketing our region to a global economy.

Like most prosecutors, Joe Deters does not prosecute White citizens who are driving into the city to buy and use drugs; who are running meth labs in affluent suburbs; who have committed violent acts (the white teenager who killed his brother with a baseball bat); or white professionals who engage in white collar crime (sexual harassment by former prosecutor Mike Allen and police officer Keith Fangman). The philosophy appears to be that if you are inside the power structure, you will avoid prosecution. Instead, these White citizens receive extensive rehabilitation services or diversion programs while African-Americans are sent to jail with extensive sentences.

"What Joe Deters said on Monday, how he said it, and how he does his job is completely outrageous. I refuse to accept the image and implications that the face of crime is Black America. What I do acknowledge is an under-prosecution of White America. It is my hope that the media will report that there is an opposing perspective to what Joe Deters said unless it desires for the image of Cincinnati to be that the 'Queen City' is really 'Jurassic Park'." said Smitherman. "This is a typical example of why Cincinnati is often thought to be 20 years behind the times. Deters' comments are remnants of something that the character Archie Bunker would say. He owes the region an apology."

37 Comments:

How did this become a racial issue? I think Deters was speaking strictly as a crime issue. The fact that the OTR is dangeous is common knowledge. Running a trolly through a dangerous area is plain stupid, not racist.

I think Smitherman hit the nail on the head and told it just as it really is. Thank GOD for the NAACP and the ACLU. With all of the corrupt politicians running the show in Cincinnati, we need somebody like Smitherman to keep it real. Joe Deters, Simon Leis, the FOP Union, and most neocon republicans - your days of pork, lies, and greed, are almost over.

See, this is why Tim Burke is a total sellout and tool. He should maybe, just maybe, TRY to recruit candidates. After all, it's his JOB.

Any Democrat would have the wind at his/her back this year, with either Clinton or Obama at the top of the ticket. Tim Burke needs to realize it's not 1984 any more, even if BushCo are doing their level best to recreate 1984 . Hamilton County is no longer brain-dead Republican.

The voters have gotten smarter in the county.

THe voters see the disastrous consequences of Repug policies.

The voters have figured out that voting for Repugs has led to record deficits, a broken economy, record high gas prices, a housing.banking crisis that is ruining families and neighborhoods all over the map, an education system that's not even the envy of Third World countries anymore, an illegal war, massive job losses, and more.

The voters of Hamilton County are appalled that one of the two "major" political parties has basically let a bunch of perverted religious zealots run their organization into the ground.

Any Dem with a room temperature IQ could beat Deters handily as it is, let alone after he says ignorant, bigoted comments like this.

What does being a member of NAACP have to do with the HamCo. Prosecutor saying he would not let his 19 year old son go to the Main St. district to "hang out"? That's a no brainer. Joe Deters is right and if more parents would put a leash on their children perhaps the crime in the Main St. district would decline. Joe Deters is being a responsible parent and that's a good thing. If anyone knows where the crime is happening, Joe Deters does.We are known by the company we keep.

The black thugs have taken over downtown. Just watch the 11 o'clock news every night. Might as well have velociraptors running around OTR. Until the black community cleans up its own backyard, black criminals will continue to commit crimes against law-abiding white citizens.

I'm surprised Cincy"capell" didn't use this opportunity to throw out another racial slur against Smitherman and try to make it look like it came from the person he tries to impersonate. Racist liberals like this Portune-supporting impersonator are an enigma.

There is a problem with drugs and violence in a segment of the African American culture. It is certainly not a majority. But, there are problems within our own community and lashing out at law enforcement is not the answer.

As a proud black man, I reject Smitherman's comments and his methods.

We are killing ourselves, my brother. Black-on-black crime is a DISEASE in our city and across our great nation. WE need to look first at our own conduct.

There is institutional and hidden racism everywhere, especially in this town. We can only defeat it when we take responsibility for our own conduct while simultaneously working to expand people's minds.

Joe Deters is spot-on with his criticism. Crime is RAMPANT and it is victimizing African Americans!!

Let's STOP this culture of drugs and violence. Let's be father's to our kids. Let's get up and go to work and show our kids what it means to have a stable life. Let's have dinner at the family table every night. Let's not do drugs.

Chris Smitherman is self-promoting by throwing bombs. That does none of us any good.

If you think for a minute, that some white kid from Sedamsville or the east end, with a public defender is going to get preferential treatment over a kid from Evanston with the same council, you need to put down that glass and let it cool off.

If you can’t afford council like Gains, or a Croswell, or a Pitzer, or a Bellew, you’re in a heap of trouble.

I have supported you and the Association on many issues, but please spare me the baiting routine…50years ago it was legit…personal responsibility and not putting yourself in these types of positions is the word…. I know…I’ve had to live a few of these cold realities.

Deter's comments were ignorant and uninformed. That being said, I don't agree w/ much of what Smitherman said either. The way to get rid of the crime in OTR is to spend money and time there (Streetcar is a no-brainer). The more that is invested in our community, the bigger return we will get. See you at happy hour on Main Street tonight!

I am surorised that Blue Chip Young Republican 'leader' Jeff Capell didn'y use this occassion to practice his back door racism, just like when he was president of the OSU College Republicans and he opposed affermative action and race relations initiatives. He always shows his true stripes.

whoa...cincycappell...how big hearted you are! yeah,yer right...a cold blooded killing of one of Cincinnati's best musicians after entertaining Main Street patrons that night is soooo last century...best I got over that...ask his brother to do the same,will you? anon coward? And I guess I could look up your name in the phone book? Bet this...I won't be buying a Halloween costume from you...I'd love to hear you say your piece face to face...coward,you couldn't.

Hey Meathead or is that Smart Mouth Punk Smitherman? You can have an apology from Deters and what you call the white leadership when you can stop all of the black on black crime. Think about it, if the NAACP had any real leadership they could put a stop to the out of control crime problem in the city. I bet the homicide rate for the city of Cincinnati would be 20 or less if we didn’t have blacks shooting blacks. Here is an idea, how about the NAACP agreeing to pay for all of the medical care provided to the victims of black on black crime. You also complain about the number of black prosecutors, I am sure Deters and the Prosecutors Office will look at hiring Clyde Bennett, Kenneth Lawson when they become available. Make sure you tell members of the NAACP Convention and the National Baptist Convention that they have more of a chance getting robbed, raped or killed by an African –American than you would by a white guy that Deters refuses to put in jail.

I am sure Deters and the Prosecutors Office will look at hiring Clyde Bennett, Kenneth Lawson when they become available.

You have got to be kidding. Those 2 dirt rags are finished as lawyers.

That smart mouth Smitherman continues to shoot his 2 feet off everytime he opens his yap. Is this latest psycho-manifesto on the Cincinnati NAACP website? Betcha it isn't. How clueless - the White community & leadership hasn't said anything because there's a huge group of those people who happen to agree with Deters. There's only a small group of individuals who pay attention to Smitherman anyway.

I've saved a number of his racist psycho rants. I'm waiting to see how many "White" companies this NAACP extorts money & advertising from for this convention. I believe they need to be fully informed on how they're being railed against by racist Smitherman. Black oppression in America? Last I looked, Smitty was living rather high, wide & fancy. Yeah, if there's any "White sponsors" for this hate fest, they need to know the truth. I haven't made up my mind if I'm going on vacation during this racist convention or if I'm going to join in the protests.

If Smitherman wasn't such a clown who has so many people laughing, he'd be a scary Black Mussolini spoiling to eliminate the White people & any other ethnicity who cut against his grain.

Smitty isn't going to address black crime, folks. In his mind, there isn't any. It's the white man & the crooked white system creating all the problems. Yeah, it's the Blame Whitey jazz again. That's the easiest way to explain it & not receive a backlash.

to see that 2 to 2-1/2 times as many Whites as Blacks were arrested in 2006 (the 2007 figures are preliminary).

Now, with five times as many Whites as Blacks one "could" argue that twice as many Whites "should" have been arrested, but suggesting offense rates are normally distributed across races ignores the actual reasons people commit arrestable crimes, not that they will.

HEY CINCYCAPELL: LISTEN UP Michael Bany didn't die 19 years ago but just so you know to the people the knew and loved him and are still awaiting the murderer to take his last walk down death row lane to leathal injection, it will always be like it just happened yesterday. I remember it everyday I wake up, have some respect for the dead!!!

Links to this post:

* Our online blogs currently are hosted and operated by a third party, namely, Blogger.com. You are now leaving the Cincinnati.Com website and will be linked to Blogger.com's registration page. The Blogger.com site and its associated services are not controlled by Cincinnati.Com and different terms of use and privacy policy will apply to your use of the Blogger.com site and services.

By proceeding and/or registering with Blogger.com you agree and understand that Cincinnati.Com is not responsible for the Blogger.com site you are about to access or for any service you may use while on the Blogger.com site.